Question

Jericho is training for a bodybuilding contest 12 weeks away. His trainer has him on an appropriate lifting routine and diet leading up to the competition. He runs 5 miles per day and his Trainer tells him that’s too much, he’s going to go into a catabolic (muscle wasting) state. Explain what this means and what Jericho could do to still do cardio and stay in an anabolic (muscle building) state.

Answer 1

Jericho's trainer is concerned that long-duration cardio might lead to muscle wasting, suggesting a need for balance. He should reduce the intensity or duration of his cardio to maintain an anabolic state, favoring muscle growth through exercises like weightlifting.

Step-by-step explanation:

Physical exercise is critical for bodybuilding, involving a balance between anabolic (muscle-building) and catabolic (muscle-wasting) processes. When Jericho's trainer warns that running 5 miles per day may lead to a catabolic state, it means that excessive cardio can cause the body to start breaking down muscle tissue for energy, which is counterproductive for muscle building. To avoid entering a catabolic state, Jericho could reduce the intensity or duration of his cardio sessions, focusing instead on low-impact or short-duration cardio activities. An expected outcome of anabolic processes would be muscle growth, which can be achieved through resistance training exercises like weightlifting, whereas an example of a catabolic activity might be long-duration endurance running, which could potentially lead to muscle breakdown if not balanced with adequate nutrition and recovery.